When people think of the words “We the People,” many think of the Preamble to the United States Constitution. However, several Sheridan High School students think of the We the People club. Sheridan High School’s We the People club has recently won their fifth state title in a row and is preparing to go to regionals in Washington DC.
We the People is a program around the United States that promotes civic knowledge and responsibility among high school students. The curriculum itself focuses mainly on the history and principles of the U.S. constitutional democratic republic.
Each conference consists of students presenting their opinions Read more >

Miami Killian Senior High students demonstrated their knowledge of the principles that form the basis of our democracy by earning second place in the annual We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution district finals.
The group of 22 juniors and seniors, led by social studies teacher Amy Lander-Rolon, recently competed with groups from other schools in the district by proving their comprehension of the United States Constitution.
Lander-Rolon said the students were well-prepared and performed admirably.
“You can see the progression in a lot of the students as their understanding and knowledge expands — their confidence and public Read more >

A request made by students in Mary Caropino’s Lead-Deadwood Middle School seventh-grade Project Citizen classes was approved by the school board Feb. 12 and will result in campus beautification, come warmer weather this spring.
Project citizen is a program designed for students to make changes in a school policy or a local policy. It allows students to understand how decisions are made at the school and local levels of government.
“Project citizen helps students express their opinions, work with the school or local government agencies and work cooperatively with their peers,” Caroppino said. “Project Citizen also covers many of our Read more >

A group of young constitutional scholars will travel to Washington in April to compete head-to-head with students from around the country.
Now a local Italian restaurant at 124 Cottage St. plans a fundraising dinner. On March 20, 10 percent of all proceeds at Nini's Ristorante will go to the students' travel fund.
Easthampton High School's "We the People" team won first-place honors at an academic competition in Boston in January, besting top Massachusetts schools. They were invited to the nation's capital to represent the Bay State.
"These young people are so incredibly knowledgeable about government and the Constitution," said teacher Kelly Read more >

Right smack in the middle of judging our local We the People competition I was informed that the man who inspired me to become a teacher had died. Everyone can name at least one great teacher in their education, and for me that was Gary Ovoian, my high school history teacher for four courses. Unfortunately, we can also all name at least one bad teacher. Mine was another social studies teacher, Mr. Ski Club Adviser (I can't recall his name). The teaching styles of these two men could not have been more different; Ski Club guy had us memorize facts, while Mr. Ovoian asked us to analyze and evaluate. I think that my love of asking "why" and " Read more >

In this video news story Clara Smith says she's always had an interest in government and politics. She's a senior at Marquette Senior High School and she's part of the We The People team.
"Our whole class is required to do called 'local hearings' where we just go to the Marquette Courthouse and I really enjoy that," said Smith.
"It's a competition where the kids have to know and apply the history and the principles of the U.S. Constitution," said Fred Cole, We The People, coach. "They take huge legal and constitutional questions and have to give historic examples and apply it to current events."
Clara is one of 30 students on the team that's Read more >

This story appeared on ABC 10 News
Just last year, the Marquette Senior High School “We the People” team was competing for a national title in Washington, D.C. This year, expect nothing different.
The team is heading back to the Nation’s capital for another chance at glory.
Their third-place performance in January at the State Competition allowed them to take a wild card spot at Nationals. Then, all they had to do was wait.
“We just had to be patient and wait about six weeks to get the word that we got the invite to the National Finals,” said teacher and team coach Fred Cole.
“It’s pretty awesome. We’re really excited,” said Read more >

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas students-turned-activists are fast becoming a powerful model of civic engagement for educators across the country.
Survivors of the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Fla., have taken to social media and TV, arguing eloquently for gun-control policies—and citing skills garnered from their Advanced Placement U.S. Government courses. They have successfully pressured major companies to drop their affiliations with the National Rifle Association and spurred thousands of students nationwide to draft petitions, plan walkouts, and start grassroots groups of their own.
Now the example of their activism, coupled with an Read more >

"An Evening with Alexander Hamilton" will be presented 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, at Incline High School.
Hal Bidlack, a historical impersonator and scholar, will appear in costume and character of Alexander Hamilton, offering the audience a unique opportunity.
Co-sponsored by the Incline High School Boosters and the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline, this event is a fundraiser for the high school's We The People team. Along with the Reno High School team, the Incline High School team of 21 students will represent Nevada in the national We The People constitution debate competition in Washington D.C. in April Read more >

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Twenty-one local sophomores are self-proclaimed experts in the U.S. Constitution and they want to prove it in Washington, D.C., this spring.
The “We the People” team, a group of high school students that competes in simulated congressional hearings at Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, participated in the state competition for the first time last year. They brought home the title in December after competing against two other schools.
In addition to class four times a week, the students practiced for hours outside of the classroom, honing their constitutional knowledge and public speaking skills.
“People say Read more >

The Marquette Senior High School We the People team has been invited to participate in the 31st annual We the People national finals on April 27-30 at the National Conference Center outside Washington, D.C.
The team was selected based on its performance at the We the People state finals and will represent Michigan as a wild card team in the national competition.
Classes qualify for the national finals by placing first in their state competition or through wild card availability.
Marquette has become a fixture at the We the People state finals, finishing in the top three six of the last seven years. This will be the second consecutive year Read more >

When the team travels to Washington, DC, Milford Central Academy’s (MCA) “We the People” team will be the first middle school team to ever participate in the National Invitational. The team is led by MCA teacher Sam Holloway.
“We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution introduces middle school students to the study of constitutional government in the United States,” Chris Kenton, who helped lead a week-long training on the program two summers ago at Valley Forge, said. “It is designed to help middle school students understand he most important ideas of our constitutional system and how they were developed. It is intended to Read more >

Long before graduating in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Hernan Carvente knew he wanted to dedicate his life to helping young people in prison. He was incarcerated at Brookwood Secure Center, a youth detention facility, when he was accepted to John Jay. “I wrote a letter to a friend saying I was going to John Jay to become an advocate,” he said. “I was going to help other guys get through what I went through myself.”
After arriving on campus, Carvente realized that despite their clear passion for justice, many students had little interaction with people who’d been directly affected by the criminal justice Read more >

For two years in a row, Blue Valley Northwest High School has won the annual "We the People" state competition and will head to Washington, D.C. for the national competition.
The Constitution was under no direct threat but the threat of a winter storm required organizers to reschedule the middle school competition to Feb. 25. The high schools competed on Feb. 6 in Manhattan as planned.
Blue Valley Northwest High School, led by government and AP government teacher Ken Thomas, won the "We the People" competition. Emporia High School took second place, and Junction City High School placed third. Colman McCarthy with the Johnson County First Read more >

Congratulations to the We The People Team!!! They have been selected to represent the State of Virginia in the 31st Annual We The People National Finals in Washington, DC in April. We the People Team will prepare for the National Finals Competition during 21st Century Learning Community Session after school, only. (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). To ensure that the students instructional time is not impeded upon as we move into the Spring SOL Testing Sessions Read more >

HON. JAMES A. HIMES
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Trumbull High School's
first place finish at Connecticut State University's We the People: The
Citizen and the Constitution competition.
Every year, thousands of high school students contend in state and
national We the People competitions, in which participants explore and
debate the origins and import of our nation's Constitution. Trumbull
High School students have long excelled in this competition. Their
victory Read more >

What are the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system?
How has the Constitution been changed to further the ideals contained in the Declaration of Independence?
How have the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices?
Those are the headings of the three out of six units the Carolina Forest High School team aced at the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competition in Lexington, bringing CFHS in as first runner-up.
AP government teacher and We the People coordinator JJ Iagulli’s team consisted of Ramy Alawar, Sandra Ataalla, Kareem Barbis, Read more >

(Remarks begin at 1:11:00 of the recording)
Chief Justice Burke began his State of the Judiciary address before the joint Session of the Legislature with praise for We the People. It was very thoughtful and he thanked Matt Strannigan for making the program possible. He spoke about We the People and what knowledgeable and informed citizens it creates Read more >

Ellie Connelly is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court and in the classroom.
The 17-year-old senior at Boonsboro High School is president of the National Honor Society and captain of the girls varsity basketball team. She's a coach with "We the People," a school program that helps students understand the Constitution, and also competes on the unified track and field team.
"In my freshman year, I got so interested in everything and I wanted to do everything," Ellie said. "My mom said 'what would you do if you weren't so involved?' I said, 'I don't know what I would do with my time.'"
Ellie's school week not only includes her Read more >

Congratulations to the West Virginia State “We the People” Champions. Clay County High School’s Advance Placement Government & Politics class, taught by Mr. Philip Dobbins, traveled to Charleston on February 1, 2018 to compete in the “We the People” state competition.
This is a competition where students demonstrate their knowledge of the Constitution and current issues in mock congressional style hearings. Each school participating must divide their classes into six teams. These six teams prepare a four-minute verbal response to a constitutional question and then are asked follow up questions by a team of three judges for six Read more >

The competitive civics teams from both Amador Valley and Foothill high schools are heading to Washington, D.C. in April, representing California for the "We the People" national finals.
Amador won the state regionals while Foothill placed second in the same tournament, held in Bakersfield on Feb. 1-2. As the winner, Amador automatically earned a spot at the national competition, while Foothill was chosen as a wild-card selection to also compete in D.C.
The finals will be held from April 27 to May 1.
"We are extremely proud of our Amador and Foothill student competitors," Superintendent David Haglund said. "It almost goes without saying Read more >

For the first time in the Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) history, both Amador Valley High School and Foothill High School competitive civics teams will represent California at the We the People National Finals in Washington D.C. At the We the People State Competition held on February 1-2, 2018 in Bakersfield, California, Amador Valley High School’s team finished in first place and Foothill’s team earned second place.
As the first place team, Amador Valley High School earns a spot at the National Competition. On Friday, February 9, Foothill High School’s competitive civics team was announced as the ‘wild card’ selection, Read more >

The Washington State Senate today honored Tahoma High School’s “We the People” team with a resolution sponsored by Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, and Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, in recognition of the school’s 22nd state championship.
“Since I was elected in 2012, I’ve had the honor of introducing a resolution each year recognizing teams from Tahoma High,” Mullet said. “I’m continually impressed by their dedication and enthusiasm. This is a great program that increases civic participation and strengthens democracy, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements.”
The team will represent the state of Washington later this Read more >

Black River students placed second in the “We The People” civics state championship on Jan. 12.
“We The People” is a competition run by the Center for Civic Education, which is dedicated to promoting an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy in the United States and other countries. The organization, with help from sponsors, runs state competitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Mariana Islands, as well as a national competition.
During the competition, panels of students are tested on their knowledge of civics, law and politics Read more >

Students from the Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School civics program took home first and second place in the Idaho state finals of the We the People Competition.
The competition was held Jan. 30 in Boise. This is the first time in more than a decade that a team from the Treasure Valley won the competition, according to Meridian Medical Arts Charter social studies teacher Blake Gaudet.
The students qualified for the national competition, which will take place in April in Washington, D.C.
The competition is sponsored by the Center for Civic Education Read more >

BOSTON -- "Greek and Roman history has revealed that thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero thought that although democracies may begin well, they tend to end in tyranny. What was Aristotle's thinking about different forms of government? Which did he prefer, and how might his ideas have influenced the Framers of the Constitution?"
No cheating. Go. Your classmates are depending upon you, and a team of judges are listening and taking notes.
An academic team from Easthampton High School fielded a series of such questions Saturday to win the statewide "We the People" competition, prevailing over top schools across Massachusetts.
The Read more >

Sheridan High School has a history of dynastic programs. The Broncs football team recently won its third consecutive state title, and Sheridan captured four straight football championships in the early 1990s.
But a Sheridan team had never taken home five state titles in a row — until last week, when SHS won the Wyoming We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution championship in Laramie for the fifth straight year.
The team will now compete in the 31st annual We The People National Finals in Washington, D.C., beginning April 27.
“I think it’s the hallmark of an outstanding academic program in Sheridan,” We The People state Read more >

Fishers High School is already the state champion in a civics program called We the People. Now the team of students, who care deeply about the United States Constitution and the country, prepare to compete for a national championship in Washington, D.C. April 27 – May 1.
Four team members delivered a practice presentation for WTHR in a classroom after school recently.
"Citizens should demand the leaders of both political parties hold their members accountable,” said one boy reading a four-minute group prepared paper.
The students testify before a panel of judges on constitutional issues and government policies, answering questions Read more >

They got a tour of the statehouse, had their picture taken with Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford and a few of them sat in on a news conference with Gov. Larry Hogan.
In all, 21 Boonsboro High School students and 15 from Williamsport High had a full day Thursday in Annapolis. They were members of the schools' "We the People" classes.
The Boonsboro class visited the Senate, and the Williamsport class observed the House. At lunchtime, they heard from members of the Washington County delegation and Amie Hoeber, candidate for Congress from the Sixth District.
Washington County's Teacher of the Year also was in Annapolis on Thursday. Western Heights Read more >

The Richmond School Board’s True Blue Moment, which looks at good things happening in the district, at a recent meeting recognized Dr. Mark Ladd and his “We the People” group at Richmond High School.
The group attends competitive competitions against other schools where they make a presentation and then answer questions related to the topic.
Several students took a moment to share how much knowledge they have gained about the U.S. Constitution and also feeling less apprehensive about speaking in public Read more >

In the classroom and on the soccer field, Connor Blair has learned the value of teamwork.
The 17-year-old Boonsboro High School senior said teamwork continues to be a central theme behind the success of the school's "We The People" team, which recently won its third straight state title while punching its ticket to nationals in April.
"So far, it's been a lot of fun," said Connor, who joined the team this year. "It's been really easy because the group gels well. It's really fun working with them."
The group of 19 juniors and seniors, plus two student coaches, were divided into six units that cover different subject areas for the Read more >

Twenty-three Spearfish High School seniors will travel to Washington, D.C., this spring to represent the state in a national competition focused on the U.S. Constitution.
Patrick Gainey, who teaches history and government classes at the high school and coordinates the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Program, said it would be the 19th time Spearfish represents the state at the national competition since he took over teaching the class.
The We the People program promotes civic competence and responsibility for upper elementary and secondary students. The program was created in 1987, directed by the Center for Civic Education and Read more >

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- High school students from across Virginia gathered at the University of Virginia on Friday for the We the People state finals.
We the People is a national program that educates students about history and the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Students from each of the eight Virginia high schools were divided and quizzed on different units in a simulated congressional hearing scenario.
The units they were questioned on ranged from the Philadelphia Convention to present issues like immigration policy.
Maggie. L Walker Governor's School in Richmond was the winner of last year's Virginia state finals, as Read more >

Nabil Chowdhury and his classmates saw a problem with the cleanliness and safety of the bathrooms at Atlantic City High School and, through their history class’ Project Citizen assignment, they believe they have a solution.
“Our bathroom has a lot of vandalism,” said Chowdhury, 15, of Atlantic City. So the group surveyed students from neighboring school districts on their bathrooms and how students are able to access them before deciding that a swipe card would be the best option.
From schoolwide troubles to pervasive social issues, sophomores at Atlantic City High School were tasked with coming up with solutions to whatever issue they Read more >

The team from Sheridan High School, led by coach Michael Thomas, won its fifth state title in as many years in the Wyoming We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution finals Monday at the Laramie Hilton Garden Inn and University of Wyoming Conference Center. This was the first year Thomas coached the Sheridan team, replacing long-time coach Tyson Emborg. Green River High School finished as state runner-up.
Twenty Wyoming high schools competed in one of the most rigorous education courses offered in the study of civics and government.
The We the People program is one of the most extensive education programs in the country on the Read more >

Sheridan High School's We the People team won its fifth consecutive state championship in competition earlier this week in Laramie.
We the People sponsor Mike Thomas said the win means that the team will now compete in the national We the People finals, which will be held in Washington D.C. on the last weekend in April. Thomas said We the People was created in 1987.
Thomas said there are currently 25 students on the Sheridan High School team.
He said the team is part of the high school's Advanced Placement American government and politics course. Students who take the course are required to participate in the We the People program.
Thomas Read more >

For York High School students of Advanced Political and Legal Studies, youth doesn’t limit the difference they are making in their community.
Teacher Jeff Barry had his 30 students split into multiple sections at the school last Thursday and Friday, and conduct 20 to 30 minute group presentations of their research for Project Citizen.
Barry’s Project Citizen is intended to promote civic participation through direct action. The students spent approximately 12 weeks working on their projects, beginning with identifying a concern or public policy issue in the local community. Students then had to research the issue, examine alternative Read more >

The Washington County Republican Central Committee is sponsoring two local high schools’ “We the People” classes on a trip to Annapolis, where they will meet their legislators and the governor.
On Thursday morning, school buses full of ​students​, teachers, central committee members and Washington County Republican Club officers will leave from Williamsport and Boonsboro high schools and head to Annapolis for the day.
Upon arrival at the statehouse, one group will go to the Senate and the other to the House of Delegate’s chambers to watch the session open for the day. The local visitors will be recognized by members of the Read more >

The West Plains R-7 School Board of Education met this week to review and approve the 2018-2019 list of high school courses and calendar, and a proposed information technology program at South Central Career Center (SCCC).
The social studies department will introduce the James Madison Legacy Project, a first-semester offering for juniors and seniors. The project, spearheaded by the Center for Civic Education under the U.S. Department of Education, is a three-year nationwide initiative aimed at increasing student understanding of civics and government. The same department will introduce a new elective course studying U.S. wars Read more >

ABC 10 reports that the Advanced Placement government class at Marquette Senior High School placed third in the “We The People: the Citizen and the Constitution” competition at the State Capitol in Lansing over the weekend. The team has been a high finisher for years.
“The kids did an excellent job, it’s the best performance we’ve had by any group in the 14 years we’ve been doing this. They really were outstanding,” Said AP Government Teacher Fred Cole.
They also got a chance to meet with State Representative Sara Cambensy.
“It was really nice, she got us on the floor of the House of Representatives, she greeted the kids and Read more >

A KIMT 3 video news story reports that a two year class project has now turned into a special sight for students in north iowa. american flag mural-vo-1 lowerthird2line:students help bring patriotic mural to school lake mills, ia 7th graders at lake mills elementary school have the opportunity to participate in "project citizen" - which is an elective teaching students to get involved in their community by making an impact. after discovering they did not have many veterans displayed in their school - the class contacted the american legion and decided to create a patriotic mural. artist bubba sorensen was contacted and completed this Read more >

This WISH-TV story is accompanied by a three-minute video about the Fishers Junior High “We The People” team having the opportunity to become back-to-back national champions. They could use some help to make it happen.
We The People is a citizen and Constitution program, teaching kids a variety of government and civics topics.
There are 30 kids on the Fishers Junior High School team. They are split into six units, learning about the Constitution, application of law, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and voting to name a few.
The kids go through a five-step tryout process and spend time each day in their We The People class to learn Read more >

Fourth-graders at Belmont Elementary School have been a captive audience this semester as they learn about the three branches of government. They’ve already read numerous books on the subject, including “The Birth of the American Democracy” and “A Day in the Senate.”
On Jan. 12, they heard firsthand from a Nebraska state senator and LPS alum what it’s like to be front and center in the legislative process.
State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln visited the school and told the story of her personal political journey - from a curious high school student active in “We the People” debate competitions to a first-term state senator Read more >

PORT SAINT LUCIE — Northport seventh graders are working diligently on their very meaningful Project Citizen collaborations.
Students are following the criteria for the projects by identifying a problem, gathering information, examining alternative policies, proposing and developing their own public policy and then developing an Action Plan.
Northport instructors Thomas McDonald and Elizabeth Montilla, the critical thinking teacher, are collaborating to make sure that efficacy is evident in the very important projects.
Students Clarousse Alfred, Duwyen Williams, John Riordan and Jose Rodriguez are passionate about getting sidewalks Read more >

Seventeen-year-old Grace Jackson is like most high school students. She enjoys watching Netflix, reading fantasy novels, drinking coffee and spending time with friends.
She also dreams of being a Supreme Court justice, and she thinks setting up mitigation strategies would be “so fun.”
On Dec. 15, it was announced that Jackson would receive a full scholarship to any Indiana college as the county’s 2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.
Her love for the U.S. Constitution and laws that govern the land began in eighth grade, when she was a member of the last local We the People team to win the national competition in Washington, D.C Read more >

The We the People team from Boonsboro High School earned the state championship on Jan. 4 in competition with two schools from Baltimore and Charles counties.
Boonsboro will participate in the national We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competition from April 27 to May 1 in Leesburg, Va.
In the simulated congressional hearing, students “testify” before a panel of judges. They demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.
The goal of We the People is to promote civic competence and Read more >

A group of 21 seniors from Robert C. Byrd High School will travel to Charleston Tuesday to participate in the “We The People” mock congressional hearing.
Under the instruction and supervision of AP U.S. Government teacher Greg Phillips, the students competed in November at the district level, where they were chosen as the class to represent District I in state competition.
“It’s a mock congressional hearing, but it’s rooted in testifying about constitutional issues,” Phillips said. “There’s a lot of philosophical conversations and philosophical writing that has to happen before we go.”
The students have to take abstract Read more >

LANSING, Mich. (WLUC) - State Rep. Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) invited a class from Marquette Senior High School onto the floor of the House of Representatives Thursday afternoon during their visit to the Capitol for a statewide civic competition. Citizens are only allowed on the floor when accompanied by a legislator.
Having worked as the director of adult and community education at Marquette Area Public Schools for the last 10 years, Cambensy said she missed working with students. She addressed the students while on the floor about her experiences in the Legislature, answered questions and wished them well in their competition.
“I’m Read more >

The We the People team from Boonsboro High School earned the state championship on January 4, 2018, in competition with two schools from Baltimore and Charles counties. Boonsboro will participate in the national We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competition in Leesburg, Virginia from April 27 – May 1, 2018.
In the simulated congressional hearing, students “testify” before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.
The primary goal of We the People is to Read more >

January commences five months of high energy, intense academic events and competitions administered by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office. From mid-January through the end of the academic year in May, thousands of students will exhibit their knowledge and skills in a dozen language arts, history, government, mathematics, science and fine arts events based on state curriculum standards.
Winning at the county level can mean a trip to state and perhaps national venues for those who have been diligently preparing since the school year began last August.
Feb. 2-3
We the People Congressional Hearings, state finals, Golden Valley Read more >

Local high school students got a chance to meet one of their senators Friday morning during a town hall meeting held just for them.
It was all part of Democratic Sen. Jon Tester's #Montennial Tour. He's been touring the state of Montana and meeting with young people face to face.
"I've done a lot of these," said Tester.
"It's one of the neat things that I really, really enjoy, is visiting with kids, because for the most part there's no political agenda."
Over 100 students from Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Stillwater Christian School convened at Glacier High School's performance hall to ask Tester a variety of questions.
They questioned Read more >

This is a video interview about the Indiana Civic Health index that was presented on WFYI, Ft. Wayne public television, that includes references to We the People, the Citizen and the Constitution.
What is Civic Health, and how do Hoosiers fare when we take a close look at their civic engagement? Measuring everything from voter turnout to participation in community groups to how often families eat dinner together, the Indiana Civic Health Index reveals Indiana residents excel - and where there's room for change. Our guests are retired Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard, Indiana Bar Foundation Executive Director Charles Read more >

Trumbull High’s We the People team won its seventh consecutive citizen and Constitution competition state championship last week. The 29 seniors in Katie Boland’s AP/ECE Government/Constitutional Studies class beat St. Joseph’s High School, Greenwich High School, Immaculate High School, South Windsor High School, Staples High School and Torrington High School in the competition, held at Central CT. State.
The students began their preparation at the start of the school year as they became experts testifying on constitutional issues in a simulated congressional hearing.
The competition involved entire classes making presentations and Read more >

Over three decades ago, Edward Armenta, then 22 years old, was on the way to visit family in the Los Angeles area when he perished along with 272 others during the May 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 crash.
After an engine separated from the plane and caused extensive damage, the jet plummeted into a field north of the airport just after takeoff. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the crash remains the deadliest recorded aviation incident in U.S. history.
Next spring, nearly four decades after the accident, Armenta’s family will have a chance to remember him at the crash memorial located in Des Plaines’ Lake Park.
A tree was planted at Read more >

Jackson Hole High School students are riding their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution to a state competition.
Students from We the People, the school’s Constitution team, aced the district qualifier in Casper on Dec. 4 and will compete Jan. 22 against six teams at the state final in Laramie.
It’s the third year in a row Jackson students have qualified under the leadership of teacher Jim Rooks. Students worked also with judges and attorneys to learn about the document and its practical application in modern politics.
They competed in teams of five on a variety of units, including the document’s history and foundations, its creation, the Read more >

Bolgatanga, Dec 23, GNA - Miss Gladys Mariam Osman, the Deputy Director of Programmes of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has called on parents and educational institutions to imbibe cultural values in the youth to know much about their socio-political environment
"Positive values engender good character development for the well-being of a nation. The Commission holds the view that positive local values contribute significantly to national development and the success of democratic governance”, she said.
She mentioned of the values that underpin progress and national development as; patriotism, discipline, honesty and Read more >

“What role, if any, should the United States play in helping war-torn nations or promoting democratic ideas and principles around the world?” This was just one of the many questions high school students prepared for in the annual “We the People” state competition recently held in downtown Indianapolis. The primary goal of the “We the People” program is to promote civic competence and responsibility among Indiana’s elementary, middle and high school students. The program, administered in our state by the Indiana Bar Foundation, is a classroom curriculum focused on enhancing students’ understanding of the institutions of Read more >

Trumbull High School has taken another first place at Central Connecticut State University’s We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution competition.
“It gets more and more competitive each and every year,” said Katie Boland, a social studies teacher at Trumbull High and the team’s coach in this competition. Staples High School, of Westport, took second place, while Greenwich High placed third.
Monday’s victory marked the 23rd championship for Trumbull High, and the seventh straight with Boland as coach.
The 29 seniors who make up the winning team are also in the school’s Advanced Placement U.S. Government/Constitutional Read more >

Wednesday night’s “We the People” competition at the Marion County Courthouse was a success!
First off, we had 100 percent attendance. Secondly, our Career Academy class will go on to represent our district at the state “We The People” event in February. One group in particular had a nearly perfect score of 177/180.
We did a plus/delta with the students and we identified areas for improvement. In particular, we have set a goal for our students to improve their professionalism, especially when they are not presenting.
There are many individuals to thank and we look forward to everyone’s continued support.
Lastly, we are looking Read more >

For one night this week at the Marion County Judicial Center, high school seniors sat in chairs usually occupied by lawyers. Some put printed note sheets out in front of them on the counsel tables, others gripped prepared note cards.
The students sat in groups of four, ready to discuss key values and ideas of the U.S. Constitution as classmates watched from the gallery and judges watched from the bench.
As part of We The People, a program developed in 1987 to teach students about the history and principles of the Constitution, teams of students from two Marion Technical Institute Career Academy classes and one Trinity Catholic High School Read more >

On Friday, December 8, students from Hollis Brookline High School, John Stark Regional High School and Milford High School converged on the Legislative Office Building in Concord to testify before panels of judges, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy. Following the “Mock” Congressional Hearings, students, teachers, parents and supportive visitors joined an awards ceremony honoring each student individually with a 2017 We the People medallion. Group achievement in each of the 6 Units of study was also recognized with Unit awards. Students from Hollis Brookline High School Read more >

Two Allen County schools finished in the top five last weekend at a statewide competition for students studying the U.S. Constitution.
Homestead High School and Woodside Middle School finished fifth and third, respectively, in the We the People competition Dec. 10-11 in Indianapolis.
Run by the Indiana Bar Foundation, We the People teaches students about civics through lessons and debates on history, law and the Constitution.
The state competition featured teams from 14 high schools and middle schools. Top-rated teams are eligible to advance to the national competition held in Washington, D.C., in May.
Last year, North Side High School went Read more >

Two schools from Fishers took home first place honors from the 2017 Indiana We the People state finals held in Indianapolis Dec. 10 to 12.
Fishers High School and Fishers Junior High School both finished at the top of the high school and middle school competitions, respectively. The win was a repeat for Fisher Junior High which placed first in the middle school contest in 2016.
Now the two teams can compete in the national We the People competitions in the spring of 2018.
More than 600 students from across Indiana participated in this year’s state championships, including several from schools new to the We the People program. During the Read more >

To support its civic education programs, the Indiana Bar Foundation is starting an endowment and will name it after one of the civic education’s biggest cheerleaders – the late Larry McKinney, senior judge with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
The Honorable Larry J. McKinney Endowed Fund for Civic Education was unveiled during the Indiana Bar Foundation’s 2017 Awards Dinner held Sunday night in Indianapolis. Funds given in memory of the McKinney after his unexpected death in September are being used to start the endowment which is hoped will reach at least ,000.
“I think it’s a fitting tribute,” Read more >

This weekend, local students will compete in downtown Indianapolis in the state finals for the We the People competition.
Plainfield High School as well as Covenant Christian High School will compete along with 12 other area schools from across the state.
“We’re really excited about it,” Covenant Christian government teacher Kyle Wilson said. “We tend to go to state every year, and we have a lot of really tough competition. Indiana is one of the toughest states as far as national competition is concerned, so there has been a lot of preparation."
Wilson said his students have worked very hard.
“I have a really good group,” he Read more >

Three education issues Fong and Salas need to pay attention to
There are currently three issues related to education in California worthy of the attention of our assemblymen, Vince Fong (CA34) and Rudy Salas (CA32).
First, the teacher shortage could be addressed by allowing veteran teachers who are near retirement to job share with another veteran teacher without harm to their “bottom line” retirement. Many teachers would work longer and continue to contribute if a half day were possible.
Second, the Assembly should consider a bill that would require all administrators to spend one day per quarter substitute teaching in a classroom. Read more >

SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ (Tucson News Now)
During the month of December, Combs Middle School students will be participating in “We the People.”
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Program's goal is to promote civic competence and responsibility.
8th grade social studies students, will engage in the program’s culminating activity.
Students will “testify” before a panel of judges acting as members of Congress, to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and they will have opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues Read more >

They haven't been elected, but a group of Joplin High School students will descend on Washington, D.C., this spring all the same.
The JHS We the People Constitution Team on Monday won the state-level competition in Columbia after participating in six mock congressional hearings. The next step will be representing Missouri at the national event in April of next year.
Directed by the nonprofit and nonpartisan Center for Civic Education, the We the People competition seeks to teach high school students the basic tenets of the U.S. Constitution and how they apply to the country’s democracy and the everyday lives of its citizens.
"We've been Read more >

Centennial High School's 'We The People' was crowned regional champions over the weekend.
On Saturday, nearly 200 local high school students competed in the annual 'We The People' congressional hearings competition at Golden Valley High School. In the end, it was Centennial High School that took home the victory in the regional competition, according to Kern County Superintendent of Schools.
During the competition, students use their knowledge of civics, history and law to present a four-minute testimony before a panel comprised of civic leaders and community scholars. Each school presents testimony in two rounds of six "units" or mock Read more >